As part of our 2006/2007 Premiership season-end review, here’s a look at how Arsenal’s season went. Read up, then offer your own advice on how Arsenal can improve this summer.
- Pre-season expectations: To challenge for the Premiership, or at least for second place. Arsenal planned to play their second-string in the domestic cups and focus on the Prem and the Champions League, with high hopes of repeating their European successes of last season.
- Season evaluation: Despite the 2nd round exit to PSV in the Champions League, Arsenal did better than last season in the Premiership and performed well in both domestic cups. Considering the injuries to Henry and van Persie, and perhaps even without those setbacks, this was a marginal improvement (albeit nothing like the fans expected).
- The Big Negative: Inability to execute Wenger’s gameplan. I had said several times during the season that Arsenal biggest battle was in the dressing room, with themselves, because they had to be mentally strong – and this batch is some way off that. Arsene Wenger is inflexible in terms of strategy but even then you’d think that with better execution Arsenal would have gone much farther this season.
- The Big Positive: In Denilson and Diaby Arsenal have backups – if not replacements – for Fabregas, and the young Spaniard will need a lighter workload next season.
- Summer Priority: Bring in a quality winger.
Arsenal need tinkering and time – not an overhaul. They are going in the right direction, even if the strategy Arsene Wenger uses may not be always effective.
Now it’s your turn: How do you think Arsenal can improve this summer?
Also see:
- The complete list for the Premiership 2006/2007 season reviews.
- Do you have what it takes to be a football manager?
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